Topolobampo On Your Own

Getting Around

Orientation

Your ship will dock at the commercial pier in Topolobampo. All excursions will leave from the pier.

If you're staying in Topolobampo, you can charter a boat to take you to Farallon Island or to Maviri Beach in the harbor.

If you're going to Los Mochis, you can either take a bus or a taxi. Los Mochis is 15 miles from Topolobampo, and the road is good. There are some interesting things to do in Los Mochis, but don't forget that you're in Sinaloa, and you must sample the local food. You'll really enjoy it!

Shopping

What's Special in the Topolobampo/Los Mochis Area

The local indians create and sell pottery, baskets, ixtle weavings (ixtle is a fiber from the agave and yucca plants) and metalwork that you can find in the shops of Los Mochis. You can also find bules, works of art that are unique to the Sinaloa area. Bules are pumpkin-shaped fruits, with a wide base and an elongated end. They go through a preservation process and then are highly decorated using etching tools and paints. Unique, if nothing else!

See our Map of Recommended Los Mochis Shopping Areas for the locations of the shops listed below.

Los Mochis offers several choices for shopping. The most traditional is a walk down Calle Gabriel Leyva Solano, where you'll find department stores, restaurants and bars, among other establishments. Los Mochis also has several indoor Shopping Malls, including Plaza Galerias, Plaza Campanario, Plaza Fiesta Las Palmas and Plaza Encuentro.

Sinaloan Cuisine

Sinaloan cuisine is renown in Mexico for its variety of flavors, the delicious specialties created by local chefs and the high quality of the ingredients.

Here are some of the more typical and popular Sinaloan dishes. (We've linked a few of the dishes to recipies you can make at home.)

• Camarones: fresh shrimp, whether grilled, fried, sauteed, baked or served in a soup or stew, they'll be very tasty!
• Chilorio: a traditional dish made of seasoned pork cut into small pieces and accompanied with flour tortillas
• Mochomo: dried meat that's roasted, macerated and fried, and seasoned only with salt and onion
• Tamales de camaron: shrimp tamales with peas, wrapped in corn husks
• Pescado Zarandeado: the fish is split in half and char-grilled, and served with rice and vegetables
• Pescado Ahumado: smoked fish using laurel leaves
• Caldo Sudador: fish soup based on porgy (pargo)
• Mangos: more than 30 varieties of mango can be found in Sinaloa
• Empanadas de fruta: "pies" filled with guava (guayaba), pumpkin (calabaza), pineapple (pina) or other fruits
• Quesos Caseros de Mocorito: the famous cheeses made in the town of Mocorito
• Damiana: a fermented drink using the plant called Damiana
• Jamoncillo: milk candy
• Piloncillos: candy made from ground sugar cane
• Tacuarines: corn and flour cookies often made in the shape of doughnuts

Los Mochis Specialties

The Los Mochis area features some delicious dishes, including quail, sea bass and paper wrapped pigeon.

Restaurants

Restaurants in Los Mochis

See our Recommended Topolobampo Area Restaurant Map for the locations of the restaurants listed below.

El Farallon
Upscale Sinaloa-style seafood, considered one of the culinary highlights of Los Mochis. The owners have branches in both Los Mochis and Culican. Try the Mignon de Camaron, made by taking a small piece of zucchini and wrapping several shrimp around it to form a circle, then wrapping bacon around the outside. It is covered with sauteed mushrooms and baked. It resembles a filet mignon, but it's made of shrimp.
Open from noon to 11:00 pm
Obregon 593
Tel: (668) 812-1273

Espana Restaurante
International dishes with a Mediterranean twist, Espana is known for its steaks, shellfish, poultry and Valencian paella. The businessmen of Los Mochis enjoy dining here.
Obregon 525
Tel: (668) 812-2221

Mr. Owen's Restaurant & Bar
The best international cuisine in the city of Los Mochis. Located inside the Plaza Inn Hotel. Has a comprehensive menu, including steaks, an extensive variety of seafood and a very good wine list. Full Bar.
Open 6:00 am to 1:00 am. Accepts Amex, MasterCard & Visa
Avenue Gabriel Leyva and L. Cardenas, in downtown Los Mochis
Tel: (668) 816-0800

Paparazzo's
Italian specialties. Paparazzo's has a well-stocked wine cellar. Full bar.
Blvd. Antonio Rosales and Heriberto Valdez #4
(668) 817-1211

Sushiko
Japanese sushi and teppanyaki. Sushiko also offers Thai and Chinese dishes and good desserts.
Ave. Heriberto Valdez #1300, Plaza Campanario
Tel: (668) 818-2043

Restaurante Santa Anita
Serving a selection of international cuisine and Mexican selections. Located in the Hotel Santa Anita. Full bar.
Open 7:00 am to 11:00 pm. Amex, MasterCard & Visa accepted.
Avenue Gabriel Leyva and Hidalgo, in downtown Los Mochis
Tel: (668) 818-7046

Restaurants in Topolobampo area

El Maviri Restaurant
Mexican seafood
This is the most popular restaurant on the beach at El Maviri. Definitely try the specialty of the house--Pescado Zarandeado (the fish is split in half and char-grilled, and served with rice and vegetables). Full bar.
Playa El Maviri, Topolobampo

Activities

Beach Escape

Maviri Beach You can either take a 45-minute boat ride or a half-hour drive from Topolobampo to Maviri Beach, the beach where the locals hang out on their weekends. There is excellent bird watching on the road from Topolobampo; you'll see an amazing variety and number of birds, including cranes, white and brown pelicans, scissor birds and other waterfowl nesting in the area. While you'll find many seafood restaurants on the beach, the famous El Maviri Restaurant is where the locals go. (See restaurant listing above.)

Eco-Excursion

Farallon Island This small rocky island is a wildlife oasis, with seals and sea lions and countless species of birds. Farallon Island is just off the coast about 20 miles from Topolobampo. It'll take about 1 hour to reach the island by boat.

Fishing

There are a number of sports fishing boats that will take you out into the Sea of Cortez to fish for marlin, sailfish, wahoo and dorado. Check with the fishing boat charter operators at the Topolobampo harbor for details.

Los Mochis City Attractions

Sinaloa Park & Botanical Garden This garden was once the private garden of American Benjamin Johnston, who founded the Los Mochis Sugar Mill. The park covers 35 acres and contains plants from around the world. The park is located next to the Sugar Mill and the Los Mochis Golf Club. Open every day from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Parque 27 de Septiembre Created in the old American Quarter, the park is similar in structure to Mexican parks of its kind and sits in front of the Sagrado Corazon Church, dating from the beginning of the 20th century.

La Pergola (Memorial Hill) This is the best (and only) spot in town to get a great view of the whole valley. In 1993 a monument was built to honor the Virgin of the Valley. Open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Espinoza Culture House Located at the bottom of Memorial Hill, the Culture House displays regional pre-Hispanic artifacts.

Museum

The Regional Museum of El Fuerte Valley Originally called the Chapman House, located in the old American Quarter, the facility was renovated in the 1980s. The Regional Museum features local pre-Hispanic pieces and important historical documents and photographs. In addition, original works by local artists are exhibited from time to time. Open 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday. Open Sundays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm only.